A refuge for battered men says it is close to capacity one day after opening its doors on Tyneside.

The 31-room Newcastle shelter, one of the first of its kind in the country, opened yesterday and organisers say it is already home to 28 men.

It has been opened by It Does Happen, a group which treats victims of domestic violence from both sexes, the brainchild of Mike Kenny.

The refuge boasts hotel-standard accommodation, a relaxed counselling room with comfortable chairs and carpet, as well as a children's room complete with oversized teddy bear.

Mike, 33, decided men needed an outlet after he was stabbed and beaten during a two-year abusive relationship.

The group says after launching It Does Happen in September, it has received 362,000 calls, a significant number of these from men in the North East.

A refuge in County Durham is expected to open before Christmas.

Asked why so many men in the region seem to keep quiet about the problem, Mike said: "It's a macho thing. Anybody in the North East who is a victim of domestic violence feels they should be able to cope with it.

"Most contact us from 10pm to 4am, that's our busiest time. It's the safest time, when their partners go to sleep. As a victim myself, I couldn't sleep.

"We can also be contacted by text message."

Barry, from Tyneside, was one of those who contacted the group after his wife attacked him as they returned from the pub, leaving him hospitalised.

He said: "I don't want to report her to police as I love her and she's not always like this. But being pushed down the stairs on Saturday night left me with a broken arm, cheek bone and nose.

"Police came to see me as they were told by ward staff that I looked as if I'd been beaten up.

"I said what if it was my wife? The officer just laughed and said `don't be stupid, women don't do that kind of thing'."

Mike added: "We have only two rooms left. We're working really hard on expanding our network."

Home Office statistics show domestic violence is attributed with the loss of 150 lives each year. Last year an estimated 446,000 people were victims in the UK.

Attacks in the home account for a quarter of all violent crime in the UK.